Brake beam and method of making



Aug. 8, 1950 L. L. WHITNEY 2,517,747

BRAKE BEAM AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed Sept. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L.WHITNEY BRAKE BEAM AND METHOD OF MAKING Aug. 8, 1950 2,517,747

Filed Sept. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 8, h 1950 BRAKE BEAM AND METHOD OF M-AKING Loren L.Whitney," Hammond, Ind., assignor to American "SteeL-Foundries Chicago,Il l.,--a corporation of New Jersey Applicationseptember 18,21948;:SeriaLN 0.49335 1201aims- (ohms-22341) This invention relates torailwaybrake beams and more particularly to a novel welded -trusstype'beam of economical constru'ction and capable of withstanding thesevere stresses of railway service.

A general object of :theinvention is --to-devise a welded beamwhich'may-be economicallyfabricated by welding a tension member'to thefront web of -a 'channel-section-or- U-section compression member.

A morespecific'object of the-invention'is to weld the tension member-tothe forward surface of"thecompressionmember front web by weld ingthroughtherear surface of said web between the topand bottom webs of thecompression member.

Another object of the invention is to "devise an economicalmethodandmeans for reinforcing the welded connection between the tensionand compression members. Stillanother object of the invention'is toeliminate leakage of weld metal by dammingthe connection between thetension'and compression members at their contacting areas.

A further object of the invention'is to provide a truss having rigidconnectionsflof novel form to the brake heads of the beam.

, The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the (following specification andthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a brake beam constructedaccording .to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view .of the beam shown in Figure 1; v

'Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the brake beam trussstructure with the brake head removed;

Figure 4 is an end view taken from the right of Figure 3;

Figure 5'is atop plan view of -a modified form of'v'truss structure; and

Figure 6 is an end view taken from the right of- Figure 5.

, Describing the invention indetail andreferring first'tothebrake beamshown in Figures v1 and 2, the beam comprises a truss structureincluding a compression member 2*of'U-sectionor channel-section having afront web 4' and top and bottom Webs'Band'S. The truss also comprises atension member 10 preferably of standard round section steel barhavingpauniform cross-section from end toend thereof-d The=outboard end:of the tension member is bent or deformed as at (2. a

As best seem-in-l 'igures 3 and 4, thaendpor- ,tion f2 of the tensionmember iswsleeved .within a complementary cylindrical opening or holeiidwithin asteel filler block-I15 having an inboard extension 18 affordingaflat seat-as at .zflbetween the block .and the forwardesurface of vthefront compressionzmemberweb 4 from the outboard end to the inboard-endoi.the tension member ;por- :tion l2.

The :block vlli,- the portion -l-2,'- and the front web 4 ware weldedtogether \from the rear 1 surface 0f the: web 4; {as indicatedH-inphantom lines at #22 :(Figures tend d). The weld =1is r-preferablyvmadeby the :processhisclosed in United States Letters BatentN0.i2,043;960,:issuedJune*9,1936, tdUniOn Carbide and CarbonGorporation. The weld con.- -,nection-at Zlextends lengthwiseofrthe web4 from "a 'point closely; adjacent the outboard fiend of the block i 6to .a point closely; adjacent the inboard :endvof the extension"i8-,-i=the block acting as (a-dam to prevent escape of the molten.we1d-metal= qfrom between the .web .4:'-and- -:the .i-portion 12 andalso afiording an unusually,rigidkconnerition there- .between;

Referring again to Figures 1 and.,2, a-brake head, generally designated24, is providedaat each 'en'drof the beamg the*rheadthaving a frontwa11'26 adapted fto aifiordaa sseatkon its forward :surface :=for 'abrake "shoe-7 28 1 (-FigurewZ). The :brake head also comprises :.-top'andibottom rear walls r30 and 32 connected tozthecfront Ewell :26-:byz'substantially vertical :walls 34 andc 36: The top and *bottomwalls 30 iran'd :32 are osecure'd: as sby1= rivetsa38 51170 the top and:b ott'om :compressiorr .;webs :6 and :8 respectively, and "i are ofiset'as rat :40 f to afford spaced itop and bottom seats for ithe frontcompression member web 4. 'Theitop and ibott'o'm brake head wa'ils 30and 5 32 forwardlyi oi the shoulders M defin'e -a socket or recessdzreceiving the blo'ck 'l'fi an'd the1 tension member -end porti'on I 2,and forwardlynf the recess 42 theb'r'ake h'ead wans' 3 0 and' 32 m'erge'with ithe -front wall 2 6 and are -formed with a conv'entional hangersocket 44 affording receptiom forflan associated-brake beam hanger *(notshown);

As -seenin Figure 2, the beamfls iprovidedz'. t its transverse-center1line-1-with. sa strut :46 con necte'd in conventional manner betweenthe ten- 'sion 'and compression members -I0 and 2; .Hthe vstrutbeinguprovided ';with the usual brake lever slot 48 and' pinhole 450.: v

In fabricating ,:the :above-i-described ibeam, the tension member IBrisgbent or otherwise-deformed,

to form the end portion l2 extending approximately parallel to thecompression member web 4. The portion 12 is then fitted within thecomplementary opening I4 of the block l6 and the block is then seated at20 against the web 4 and is clamped in position during the weldingprocess which is normally performed with the tension member 12 below thecompression member 2 and the compression member webs G and 8 disposedapproximately in a vertical position to accommodate a weld along therear surface of the web 4. After the weld has been completed, the brakehead 24 is riveted in place, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. j

A modified truss structure is shown in Figures and 6 wherein partscorresponding to those of Figures 3 and 4 are identified bycorresponding numerals. In the modification of Figures 5 and 6, thefront compression member web 4 is slotted as at 52 and the rear marginof the opening l4 in the block I6 is open to accommodate insertion ofthe tension member portion l2 into the slot 52 'when the block I6 isseated as at against the forward surface of the front compression memberweb 4.

It may be noted that the vertical longitudinal center line of theportion [2 is disposed inwardly of the opening at the rear edge of thehole I4 so that the block IE will remain in assembled relationshipduring'the welding at 22.

The truss structure shown in Figures 5 and 6 is welded in the samemanner as that shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the tension member ID belowthe compression member 2 and the webs 6 and 8 approximately vertical.portion I2 is first inserted within the block 16 and the latter is thenclamped in the position shown in Figures 5 andG- against the forwardsurface of the front web 4 which is, during the welding process, thebottom surface of the Web 4, and the weld 22 is then made through theslot 52 from the rear surface 'ofthe web 4 between the webs 6 and 8.

1 After the truss structure has been fabricated, as above described, abrake head is riveted to the truss, as above described in connectionwith Figures 1 and 2.

1 I claim:

1. A brake head comprising a compression member having top and bottomwebs and a front web, a filler'block externally of the space betweensaid top and bottom webs,'bearing against the forward surface of saidfront web and having an rcuate opening extendinggfrom the inboard to theoutboard end of said block, a tension member of uniform cross-sectionfrom end to end thereof having an end portion bent approximatelyparallel to said front web, said portion being snugly fitted in saidopening, a brake head having a cavity receiving said block, said portionand said webs, said brake head having top and bottom rear wallsconnected to said top, and bottom webs, and a welded connectionbetweensaid front web, said block and said portion, said connection extendinglengthwise of said front web and being spaced from but extendingadjacent to the inboard and outboard ends of'the block.

2. A truss type railway brake beam including a compression member ofchannel-section having a front web and top and bottom webs extendingrearwardly therefrompa generally rectangular filler block having a fiatsurface seated against a complementary face on-the exterior surface ofsaid front web, a tension member having an arcuate end portion extendinggenerally parallel The tension member 9 to the front web and snuglyfitted in a complementary opening through the block, a weld securingsaid portion, said surface and said face, and a brake head having topand bottom walls connected to the external surfaces of said top andbottom webs respectively, said walls being offset toward each other toafford top and bottom seats bearing against said face above and belowsaid block and to define a cavity complementary to and receiving saidblock.

3. A brake beam comprising a compression member having top and bottomwebs and a front web, a filler block bearing against the forwardexterior surface of said front web and having an arcuate openingextending from the inboard to the outboard end of said block, a tensionmember having an arcuate end portion complementary to and snugly fittedin said opening and extending approximately parallel to said front web,a welded connection between the front web, the block and said portion,and a brake head having a front wall adapted to seat associated brakeshoe means and having top and bottom rear walls connected to the top andbottom webs respectively.

4. A brake beam comprising a compression member having top and bottomwebs and a front web defining a channel, a filler block bearing againstthe forward surface of said front web externally of the channel andhaving an arcuate opening extending from the inboard to the outboard endof said block, a tension member having a portion generally parallel tosaid front web, said portion being complementary to and snugly fitted insaid opening, a weld connecting said front web to said block and saidportion, and a brake head connected to the compression member, saidblock having an extension spaced from the forward surface thereof andextending inboardly beyond the inboard margin of said head.

5. A method of fabricating a railway truss comprising the steps ofdeforming the end of an arcuate section tension member approximatelyparallel to the front web of a U-section compression member, then snuglyfitting a filler block on the deformed end of the tension member andseating said block against the external surface of said web alongcomplementary substantially fiat areas to eliminate leakage of moltenweld metal between the block and the Web, then welding the block andsaid end to the web from the rear surface thereof, and then attaching abrake head to the compression member.

6. A truss type railway brake beam including a truss structurecomprising a compression member having an internal channel and asubstantially vertical flat surface at its forward edge externally ofthe channel, a filler block having a flat surface complementary to andseated against the first-mentioned surface, a tension member extendinggenerally parallel to said surface through a complementary opening insaid block, a welded connection between said surfaces and said tension.member, and a brake head secured to said structure.

7. A brake beam comprising a truss structure including a compressionmember with a front web and top and bottom webs extending rearwardlytherefrom and defining a channel, a filler block seated against theforward surface of said front web externally of the channel, a tensionmember extending generally parallel to the front Web and through acomplementary opening in the block, a welded connection between thefront web, the block and said portion, and a brake head carried by saidstructure.

8. A method of fabricating a railway brake beam comprising the steps ofdeforming the end portion of an arcuate section tension memberapproximately parallel to the front surface of a compression member webhaving a slot, then snugly fitting a filler block on the deformed endportion of the tension member, then seating said block against theforward surface of said web along complementary substantially flat areasand inserting the tension member into the slot, and then welding thetension member and block to said Web.

9. A brake beam comprising a truss structure including a compressionmember having an internal channel, a filler block seated against theforward surface of said member externally of the channel, a tensionmember extending through a complementary opening in the block, a weldedconnection between the block, the tension member and the compressionmember, and a brake head carried by said structure.

10. A truss type railway brake beam comprising a compression memberhaving a web with a slot, a filler block seated against the web, atension member extending through a complementary opening in the blockand into the slot, 2. weld connecting the block to the compression andtension members, and a brake head carried by the compression member.

11. A method of fabricating a railway brake beam comprising the steps offitting an end portion of a tension member into a complementary openingof a 0ne-piece filler block, then seating the block against the externalsurface of a front compression member web, and then Welding the web fromthe rear surface thereof to the block and the portion.

12. A method of fabricating a railway brake beam comprising the steps offitting the end of a tension member into a one-piece filler block, andthen welding the block to a channel compression member externally of itschannel.

LOREN L. WHITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 867,184 Baker Sept. 24, 1907884,446 Williams, Jr. Apr. 14, 1908 2,356,720 Aurien Aug. 22, 1944

